“That’s not what we’re proposing at all.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has moved to distance himself from claims that his government has proposed the introduction of customs posts to solve the Irish border issue.
On Monday evening, a report emerged citing UK proposals for customs posts erected on both sides of the border, located five to 10 miles back from the actual land frontier.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney quickly shot down the suggestion, noting that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland deserve a better solution.
On Tuesday morning, Boris Johnson rejected the claims, referring to the leaked proposals as “confused” and “not right” while speaking on BBC Breakfast.
As for what Johnson does intend to propose, the Prime Minister was guarded, noting that he “was not going to be producing now what we are going to be tabling” to the European Union.
It has been reported that the legal text of an updated Brexit deal has been prepared by the UK government and that plans will be made public in the coming days.
In conversation on BBC Radio 4, Johnson noted in relation to Monday’s report: “That’s not what we’re proposing at all.”
“Absolutely not, absolutely not, no. And there are very good reasons why that would not be a good idea and I think everybody familiar with the situation in Ireland and Northern Ireland can understand why.”
Johnson, meanwhile, told BBC Breakfast that he will be making “a very good” offer to the EU.
Elaborating on his version of the Withdrawal Agreement, Johnson opined that the removal of the backstop is “a fantastic thing” that will prove pivotal in the UK’s ascendency.
“What we want to do is to get rid of the backstop,” he began.
“That’s the most important thing… getting rid of the backstop is a fantastic thing because what that does is it enables the UK genuinely to take back control of our regulatory framework, of our tariffs, of our customs and commercial policy, and it allows us to go forward with a new and exciting relationship not just with the EU but also with the rest of the world.”
The Prime Minister #BorisJohnson tells #BBCBreakfast how he thinks his #Brexit deal will differ from @theresa_may's Withdrawal Agreement.
More here: https://t.co/jaret5HqpB pic.twitter.com/28QoWpQqOD
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) October 1, 2019
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